Windermere restaurant The Lighthouse bought for £1.65m

The future of The Lighthouse restaurant in Windermere has been secured after a local entrepreneur purchased the business for £1.65 million.

Dutton Cuisine founder Ian Dutton will initially trade the business as is but will soon refurbish the site and change the menu to make better user of local suppliers.

Dutton Cuisine currently operates two other food establishments in the Lake District; The Pig, also in Windermere, and the Bowness-based Village Bar & Grill.

“The Lighthouse is an iconic feature of Windermere’s high street and acts as a focal point to the town,” says Dutton.

“We’re pleased to be able to continue the legacy of such a historic building and safeguard jobs. We will be completely refurbishing the building and installing a state-of-the-art kitchen in addition to revamping the menu to offer fresh homemade food made with ingredients from the local area."

Dutton Cuisine has added The Lighthouse to its Cumbria portfolio with the support of a £1.4 million funding package from NatWest.